Masala Annam ~ Rice Pilaf | Fund Drive for Vaidehi Ashram

In our recent visit to my relatives, I was able to capture the making of Masala Annam while my relatives were busy ruffling up so many other delicious treats too. Masala Annam is quite famous and much sought out at our home. This rice is mostly made on all special occasions and what better time than a family reunion.

Though I had already blogged about a Masala Annam that my SIL makes, this is yet another variation they have. It was so interesting lugging around with a camera, while they were busy trying to accomplish about 4 -5 different dishes at one go. 

I had planned to do a monthly recaps, in hope to keep track of what I am doing. Guess that's only meant to be on plans and not happen. Days are hectic and nights are short. Gone are the times when I was able to burn the midnight lamp and slog on the posts. Somebody said 'Life happens', yes it's quite happening and I am not about to change much. 

Coming to the recipe, this is a work of perfection and you will end up with a wonderful meal. The measurement you see was for 20 people, I have scaled down the measurement to as accurate I could get.

Step by Step Picture Recipe:

Masala Paste

Saute onions in oil

Add whole spices

Continue sauteeing

Till the onions are almost this colour

Add the ground masala paste

Continue sauteeing

Salt is added at this stage

Bay leaf

And curds

Saute till the oil comes out

Water is added

After the water starts boiling, soaked and drained rice is added.

Cover and cook, and fluff in between to make sure it cooks evenly

Rice is done.

Masala Annam ~ Rice Pilaf

Ingredients Needed:

For Masala Paste

Coriander Leaves - 1 cup, tightly packed
Mint Leaves - 1/2 cup, tightly packed
Green chilies - 4 -5 long
Cloves - 3 -4
cinnamon - 3"
Ginger 2"
Garlic - 5 -6 cloves
Coconut - 1/2 cup

For the Rice:

Rice - 2 cups
Onions - 2 medium
Bay Leaves - 3 -4
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 3"
Mace / Javitri - 1 big
Anise Star - 2
Curds / Yogurt - 2 -3 tbsp
Salt to taste
Water - 4 cups
Oil - 4 tbsp

How to make the Masala Annam / Rice Pilaf

Wash and soak the rice in two times its amount for at least 15 - 20 mins.

For Masala Paste

Wash and drain both mint and coriander leaves.

In a mixer, take all the ingredients expect green chilies, pulse it couple of times till the leaves are finely ground. Finally add the green chilies and pulse it again. The green chilies should not be ground finely, but it should sort of retain it's shape and just be coarsely ground.

For making the rice:

Heat a non stick or wide pan enough to cook the Rice.

Add oil and onion julienne. Saute till the onions start turning colour. Add all the whole spices and saute well.

At this stage add the ground masala paste, and mix well. Add salt and cover, and simmer.

Add the bay leaf, mix well. Then add the curds and again cover to cook in low flame.

At this stage you will see the oil coming out well.

Add water and cover. When the water starts rolling, drain the rice and add to the pan.

Cover and cook in sim. Keep checking in intervals of 10 mins. The rice takes about 20 mins or even less to get done.

Note:

If you want to pressure cook, make sure you add a little less water than 4 cups.
The rice colour is because of the browned onions.
Increase the spice by adding more chilies if you want

Fund Drive for Vaidehi Ashram

When Siri wrote to me about Vaidehi Ashram, I remembered the Ashram I used to visit during my college days. It was again an ashram for kids and they even used to have kids just a day old. I used to spend some time and see how I could help. Mostly the kids used to be just happy to get the company. When I first took toffees for the kids, it was not accepted for two reasons, one the kids need to have proper dental care and next they were in need of greater things than toffees. I was moved beyond words, knowing those small kids were denied toffees and small pleasures in life because they didn't have anybody to take care of them.

It's almost 15 years since this incident and I still remember every small detail of my visits.  I could understand how Siri was moved to help out the children at the Ashram. 

Towards that Siri is organizing Fund Drive to help raise money.

She is also conducting a raffle with wonderful prizes offered by the Food blogger community, which you can bid for. The money, in the form of your bids will directly benefit the Ashram through her.

I am sponsoring "The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches: Recipes, History, and Trivia for Everything Between Sliced Bread" by Susan Russo. The book is shippable worldwide. The details are below.

Code Name: RW5
Description: The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches: Recipes, History, and Trivia for Everything Between Sliced Bread by Susan Russo

Here is how the fund drive works.

1. Buy a Raffle Ticket (or 2 or more)

Each raffle ticket is worth $10 (or Rs.500). You can increase your chances of winning the giveaway by buying more than 1 raffle ticket.

For Example, a donation of $20 will fetch you 2 raffle tickets which can be used to choose on any of the raffle prizes. You can use all your raffle tickets on one prize (in turn increasing the chances in the lucky draw) or on different prizes.

2. How to Buy the Raffle Ticket

Paypal or credit.

Once the donation process is completed, please forward your payment confirmation message to info(dot)siri(at)gmail.com, clearly specifying the raffle prize you are interested in.

Within 24 hours, your name and contributed amount will be added to the ‘Fund Drive Supporters List’. If you want to stay anonymous, please let Siri know in advance. For any correspondence/questions/queries, use the comment section or the email address mentioned.

Details can be found in Fund Drive Supporter's List and the List of Raffle Prizes

I hope you will want to make a difference!

Snack Mela Round up ~ Part 2

I hope you enjoyed the Snack Mela Part 1 round up. We have about 180+ entries making their way to this mela. I was happy to make it a two part round up to make sure all the entries are checked out in leisure!

First we have some savory snacks in all forms making their way. I couldn't categorize these further. Though I am sure you will have great fun checking out the entries!

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Amarendra Mulye's Methi Muthiya
Amy's Bread Baskets and Easy Cucumber bites
Anjana's spicy jingle balls
Archana's American SweetCorn With Butter
AvanthiRao's Corn Sundal

Easyfoodsmith's Murunde- Sticky Wheat Pops
Hobby Chef's Cheese Bread Roll
Jaleelakamal's Crispy Cauliflower
Kavi's Paneer Chilli

Kokila Karthikeyan's Black chick Peas Balls and Roasted Almond/Badam
Malathi Savitha's Corn Flakes Mixture, Crispy Kadle Puri Oggarane, Crispy Kodubale/Rice Flour Rin and Fat Free Popcorn

Mythreyi's Kiwi Salsa and Curried Cauliflower
Nisha's Crunchy Namak Pare-Shakar Pare
paul lumen's Christmas Sweet puffs
Rajani 's Healthy Guilt free Snacks and Masala Papad
Rathai's Mixture

Sangeetha Nambi's Gobi 65
Sidra Amjed's Cinnamon Sticks
Sushma Pinjala 's Fruit and Nuts Basket
Tipsndeals's Flour Fritters
Vaishali Sabnani's Crunchy Cashews
Vardhini's Oven Baked Breaded Okra and some Popcorn

Then let's check out some snacks/ starters with non veg.

Jaleela kamal's Prawn Mutton Kheema Kabab 
Kokila Karthikeyan's Bread Crumbs Chicken
Krithi's Egg Puffs
Manju's Spicy Tuna Fish Cutlets
Sonali's Fish Roe/Egg Cutlets
Sushma Pinjala 's Egg Puffs

Shobha sent in eight entries under non veg, I am sure she has great fans with so many! Check out her Batter-Fried Sausages, Chicken Crunchies,  Chicken Gold Coins, Chicken Lollipops, Fried Pomfret - Koliwada Style, Kadai Chicken Tikka, Quail Egg Fritters, and finally a Stuffed Chicken Drumsticks

Then comes some light tiffins that you can serve to your kiddos!

Amy's Vegetable Roti
Archana's Paneer Sandwich and  Tomato Puri
Kavi's Cucumber Bread Cups and Tofu Open Sandwich

Kokila Karthikeyan's BreadToast With Cheese,Tomato and Kothu Corn Tortillas
Nisha's Stuffed Khandvi / Pittod Rolls
Richa's Paneer roti rolls

Princy's Moong bread rolls
Sangeetha Nambi's Bread Sandwich in a Minute, Drumstick Leaf Adai and  French Toast
Shobha's Dhokla Cake and  Palak Rolls
Swetha's Kothu Paratha


And finally for some delicious desserts!

Ambika's Kitchen's Banana Coconut Fudge
Anisha's Nutella Chocolate Pudding
Anzz's White Chocolate Rocky Road Bar

Kavi's Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Chocolate Soufflé
Rinku Naveen's Chocolate Brownies

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I would like to extend my special thanks to Priya Suresh and Shobha for sending in so many entries. They are so innovative and enthusiastic. I would like to thank everybody else who participated and supported this event.

 

My sincere apologies if any entry is missed, please email me I will update right away!

 

Do send in your entries for Chocolate Mela!

Snack Mela Round up ~ Part 1

I know Snack Mela round up is way too delayed. I lost the list and had to work on it completely again. Never realized it will get so late to do the round up. However I thoroughly enjoyed going through the entries. I am sure all the 180 entries will come so handy when you are in need of ideas for Snacks.

Making it as a two part round up to make sure all the entries gets properly checked out. Please excuse the picture collage as I had to do the list that was finally left out.


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First in the round up comes all baked dishes, be it bread, sweet or savory, I tried putting them together!

Kavi's Double Decker Pizza
La's Red and green peppers pizza
Malathi Savitha's Simple Homemade Garlic Bread
Nalini's Whole Wheat Almond Cookies
Nupur's Thekua: Whole Wheat Cookies
Preeti Deo's Baked Chirote
Priya Suresh's Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Priya Suresh's Cheese Stuffed Tomato Buns, Eggless Buttery Almond Cookies,  Eggless Orange,White Chocolate & Oats Cookies,  Mushroom & Spinach Calzone and Spicy Ajwain Biscuits

Ramya's Recipe's Babycorn and Bellpepper Pizza
Sangeetha Nambi's Vegetable Pizza
Shobha's Pizza Rolls
Sushma Pinjala 's Baked French Fries, Baked Hash Browns, and Peanut butter cookies
Teena Mary's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vardhini's Baked Potato Chips and a healthy Roasted Chickpeas

Vatsala Rana's Whole Wheat Nankhatai

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Of course cakes are baked but makes it easy to browse right! Check out the wonderful collection of cakes with so many to choose from eggless collection of recipes

Ashwini's Lowfat Almond Banana Cake
Hema's Eggless Vanilla Cooker Cake
Kavi's Eggless Golden Yello Cake
PJ's Eggless Yellow Sponge Cake
Poornima's Custard Powder Snack Cake

Priya Suresh's Dates & Chocolate Cake, Eggless Almond,Chocolate & Flax seeds Cake, Eggless Apple & Ricotta Cheese Cake, Eggless Carrot and Tutti Frutti Cake, Eggless Cinnamon Orange Cake, Eggless Condensed Milk & Apple Cake, Eggless Dates and Pineapple Cake, Eggless Fruits & Nuts Cake

And finally from me, Eggless Carrot Cake and MW Eggless Chocolate Cake

Then we have some delicious Chats making our way!

Amarendra Mulye's Matar Pattice

Archana's Chilli Garlic Papdi, Chola Tikki, Curry Flavored Papdi, Masala Papad, Poha Patties

Ayeesha's Rava Peas Tikki
Deeksha's Bharwan tikki
Deepika's Chana sprout chaat

Maria John's Soya Chunks & Potato Cutlet
Priya Suresh's Mixed Veggies and Sprouted Greengram Cutlets
Ramsha Shahid's Masala Papri

Ramya's Pav bhaji

Richa's Raw banana patties
Sangeetha Nambi's Pav Bhaji
Shobha's Bean Sprout Cutlets
Sidra Amjed's Pani Puri

And then from me a Wafer Chat

Ok now for some tempting deep fried snacks or very close to them!

Anusha Praveen's Vegetable Nuggets
Ashwini's Kobichya Wadya/Cabbage Nuggets
Deeksha's Kalmi Vada
Hemavathi 's Pista Cerelac Vada

Kavi's Bread Rolls, Paneer pakoda, Veg Croquette / Kebab

Kokila Karthikeyan's Roasted Peanuts
Krithi's Veg Puffs
Princy's Spinach Chickpea Rolls
Madhavi's Bajji

Malathi Savitha's Hittina Aambode/Rice Flour Vada and Masala Peanuts/ Kara kadalai

Manju's Crispy Veggie Samosa
Mythreyi 's Plantain Wedges
Nalini's Stuffed Bread Roll


Priya Suresh's Broccoli Batata Vada, Soyakheema & Potato Stuffed Chilly Fritters and Spicy Potato Wedges

Rinku Naveen's Pazham Pori
Sangeetha Nambi's Masala Vadai or Kaara Vadai and Urad dhall Vadai

Shobha's Bori Samosas, Bread Pakoras, Plaited Samosas and Spring Onion Rings

Shwetha's Spring Onion Pakoras

Sidra Amjed's Potato and Cheese Balls
Sushma Pinjala 's Baked Samosa
Swetha's Vegetable Cutlets
Teena Mary's Onion Rings

And finally from Vardhini, a Low fat Thayir Vadai

Now comes some light tiffins if you want!

Akheela's Rice flour buttermilk savoury
Anjana's stuffed semolina triangles
Malathi Savitha's Pudina Crunchy Roll and Spicy Poha/Khara Avalakki

Nupur's Microwave Dhokla
Priya Srinivasan's Schezwan Idly
Sangeetha Nambi's Panaiyaram and Pesarattu
Smitha's Podi Idli
Vardhini's Kuzhi Paniyaram


And finally for some sweet offerings...

Anisha's Easy Eggless Tiramisu with Marie Biscuits
Kokila Karthikeyan's Orange Pears Smoothie
Priya Suresh's Baked Apple Chips
Rajani's Banana Peanut Butter Granola and Yogurt Parfait

Smitha's Mango Panna Cotta
Sushma Pinjala 's Creamy Walnut fudge
Vaishali sabnani 's Peanut Chikki
Vardhini's Oatmeal Granola Bars

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 I would like to thank everybody who sent in their entry..part 2 will be out soon..

Chicken Roast ~ Andhra Style | How to make Chicken Roast Step by Step Recipe

After a day at home, Monday always seem to have the blues attached, no matter what. They kids were up very late, so they refused to wake up on time. It become a big task, yelling, cajoling, threatening all the way to the bath and then grooming. Two little hung faces, and we steeled ourselves not to melt. Hubby dear has given them the ultimatum the Chutti TV is no longer going be featured. Well I got to wait and watch for that to happen. Meanwhile we just got to make sure they don't' get hooked to the TV again like that late night.

Breakfast was Masala Dosa, and it was a pleasing thing to note that Konda is now eating the Aloo Baji. I made the coconut chutney for her, but she happily ate the potato masala and said she loves it so much. I recently came to know in a hotel that she loves masala dosa. Whenever I make I have never seen her eating it. I guess that's Amma's influence in getting her used to it.

Coming to the recipe for today, it's going to be the Chicken Roast. Though the ground masala was pretty much the same as the Mutton Gravy, few other things were added to make it different. And the entire cooking done in the pan as chicken gets cooked pretty fast on pan.

Step by Step Recipe

Chili powder and coriander powder goes first

Add Curds to the chicken.

Next add the Chicken Masala

Chicken Roast

Ingredients Needed:

Chicken - 1 kg
Onions, julienne - 2 cups,
Green Chillies - 4 -5
Tomatoes, chopped - 2 cups
Ground Masala - 1 cup
Red chili powder - 4 tsp
Coriander powder - 4 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Chicken Masala - 50 gms
Curds - 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves 1/2 cup


How to make the Chicken Roast:


Wash the chicken and cut into same size pieces. Drain it on a colander.

Have the Masala paste ready at hand.

Heat a non stick pan with oil, add onion julienne, green chilies. Saute well till onion turns colour.

Next add the ground masala and combine everything well. Cook on high for 5 mins. Now add the drained chicken and combine everything together and cook on high for 5 mins.

Then add chili powder, salt, coriander powder, turmeric powder. Mix well and cook on high, stirring at interval to make sure the bottom doesn't get burnt.

Once the oil starts coming out, add the curds, cook for couple of minutes. Then add chopped tomatoes.

Next goes the chicken masala powder, mint leaves. Continue cooking on high for the moisture to be all evaporated.

Add chopped coriander leaves and combine.

This takes about 30 mins for all the water to be evaporated and a thick gravy to coat the chicken pieces.

The dish has to be cooked on high for the moisture to be evaporated quickly.

Garnish again with coriander leaves.

Indian Non Veg Thali ~ Mutton Gravy, Chicken Roast, Keema Balls Gravy, Fried Keema Balls, Masala Annam.
Other Chicken Recipes

Mutton Curry / Mamsam Kura | Andhra Mutton Curry | Step By Step Recipe

I am sure the Mutton Masala paste that I shared couple of days back, made it interesting enough to see how the gravy was made. In fact in my previous posts on the authentic mutton gravy that was prepared in my inlaws place, I realized now that it's a different recipe. so I got geared up with the camera and warned my sil and her husband, who was the chief chef of the day, that I might as well be an underfoot for the entire period.

I was always told that my bil makes the non veg dishes very well and I was eager to capture them for the blog. My sil was in charge of grinding the masala for him, while I was busy clicking away every small step. In fact I got so busy that I called in Konda to help me jot down the recipe. She so happily obliged, in fact refused to leave after a while. I had to literally force her out, else we were so cramped.

PS: This post features uncooked meat pictures, please skip if you are not used to seeing them.

When it comes to the traditional non vegetarian dishes that are made in Andhra, it is bound to be spicy and delicious. I am not sure how much of a chilli powder I would have added for the amount of meat used for this gravy, but I was shell shocked seeing the chilli powder that went.

The menu that was decided was to make Mutton Kura, Chicken Roast, Fried Keema Balls, Keema Gravy (Keema Kofta curry), Masala Annam etc. I know I was just tired writing down the different methods they followed on the way. Both of them were very humble and kept saying the masala used were all the same for all dishes. Well I know that though it's true, few things were added or removed, which surely made lot of difference to the end dish.

For the Keema Varieties, hubby dear's aunt was in charge. He used to say so much about her dish, that he finally requested her to show me by cooking it. So I was again fixed to a spot trying to capture every single move of her. Will write more on this in the Keema Kofta post that will follow.

Step by Step Picture Recipe

Ground Masala paste / Mutton Masala paste

Wash and drain the mutton pieces until to be used.

Heat about 4 -5 tsp of oil in a pressure cooker

Add onion julienne, green chilies

Saute till the onions are turning brown.

Add the mutton masala paste.

Saute till done.

Next add the drained mutton pieces.

Cook on high flame and at this time you will start seeing water coming out.

This is after 5 mins.

Add coriander powder, turmeric powder

Chilli powder and salt

Mix everything well and continue cooking on high flame.

Add about 2 cups of water and bring to boil.

 Add chopped tomatoes and cover with lid. Pressure cook till done.

Mutton Kura | Mamsam Curry

Ingredients Needed:

Mutton Masala - 2 - 3 cups
Onions - 3 medium
Green Chillies - 4 -5 medium
Coriander powder - 7  8 tsp
Chili powder - 8 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil - 4 -5 tsp

How to make the Mutton Kura

Wash and cut into bite size pieces. Keep it on a colander for it to drain completely.

Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add onion julienne, slit green chilies and saute well.

When the onions starts browning, add the drained mutton pieces and mix everything well.

Bring to boil, you will find the mutton leaving lot of water, it shoudl almost evaporate.

After about 10 mins or so, add coriander powder, chili powder, salt, turmeric and mix well.

Add 1 -2 cups of water and cover with lid. Pressure cook till done.

Notes:

Since it's mutton it normally takes about 10 whistles depending on your cooker.
All the masala were added to the ground mutton masala and nothing else was added.

Check for other Mutton Dishes